December 8 Energy News

December 8, 2017

World:

¶ Total Gas & Power and Reactive Technologies believe they can maximize the value of solar through a hybrid power purchase agreement that exploits flexibility markets. The companies say their ‘Enhanced PPA’ gives solar generators scope both to secure long-term revenues for their output, but also additional income by using flexibility opportunities. [The Energyst]

Solar array at sunset

¶ With a more ambitious energy development plan, Thailand’s share of renewable energy in total final energy consumption could surpass its national target by a quarter and reach more than 37% by 2036, according to a new report published by the International Renewable Energy Agency and the Ministry of Energy of Thailand. [solarserver.com]

¶ More than half of the European Union’s 619 coal-fired power stations are losing money, according to a new report from the analysts Carbon Tracker. As a result, the industry’s slow plans for shutdowns will lead to €22 billion ($25.8 billion) in losses by 2030 if the EU fulfills its pledge to tackle climate change, the report warns. [The Guardian]

Coal-fired plant in Germany (Photo: Sascha Steinbach | EPA)

¶ Alberta’s minister of environment and parks, announced a plan to adopt an output-based allocation system for large emitters in Alberta. The a move is applauded by the Canadian Wind Energy Association, which point out that the plan supports Alberta’s efforts to move to zero-carbon wind energy and other renewable generation. [North American Windpower]

¶ At its national conference in London, the Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association, a trade body in the UK, launched a voluntary, industry-led scheme to support operators of AD plants to improve their operational, environmental, and health and safety performance, especially in terms of energy generation and digestate quality. [FarmingUK]

Biogas facility

¶ Dumfries and Galloway Council’s planning committee has given consent to two wind farms in Scotland totaling 66.4 MW. Element Power has received approval for the 40.8-MW Windy Rig wind farm north of Carsphairn, while Muirhall Energy has the go-ahead for the 25.6-MW Loganhead project northwest of Langholm. [reNews]

¶ Hitachi could stop funding development of a new nuclear plant on Anglesey unless the government agrees to a viable financial support package by the middle of next year, the head of the project has warned. He said the plant’s Japanese owners had already spent £2 billion and needed some certainty it can get to a successful conclusion. [The Times]

Wylfa Newydd nuclear plant (Christopher Furlong | Getty Images)

US:

¶ A judge of the US District Court for the District of Columbia issued several orders concerning the Dakota Access pipeline. They address the possibility of a spill like the recent 200,000 gallons of oil lost by the Keystone pipeline. One order instructed the Army Corps of Engineers and Dakota Access to increase their pipeline monitoring. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Wildfires are raging just north of Los Angeles, destroying whole communities just a short drive from the city’s downtown area. The fires consume everything in their path and only go out when they reach the Pacific Ocean. Commuters accustomed to massive traffic jams on the Highway 101 are now forced to run a gauntlet of flames. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Coal accounts for nearly 80% of the power generated by PPL Corp, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The company has issued a climate assessment saying that coal will provide about 10% by mid-century. The decline will be caused by market forces. The company now vows to use more distributed energy and cleaner-burning fuels. [Forbes]

¶ Anheuser-Busch, a company known for its popular beer brand Budweiser, has ordered 40 units of the recently unveiled Tesla Semi Truck, representatives have announced. Anheuser-Busch reps said the reason for the relatively large order is to help the company in its efforts to reduce fueling costs and to reduce its emissions. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Semi (Tesla image)

¶ The Platte River Power Authority, the electricity provider for the Colorado communities of Fort Collins, Loveland, Estes Park and Longmont, unveiled details about what could be the most affordable way to carbon neutrality. Members of the Platte River board said they were pleasantly surprised by the costs of carbon neutral electricity. [The Coloradoan]

¶ The latest confirmed initiative for power restoration in Puerto Rico is a donation of 6 MW of batteries from AES, which has suggested microgrids and large-scale solar could be the answer to long term stability issues. Other companies including Tesla, Sonnen, and Tabuchi America have made equipment and labor donations. [Energy Storage News]

¶ BART, the rapid transportation system in the San Francisco Bay area, will soon be powered almost entirely by renewable energy. The system will be 90% powered by wind, solar, and other renewables by 2021, after the BART Board of Directors approved two 20-year renewable energy power purchase agreements. [San Francisco Examiner]

¶ FuelCell Energy, based in Danbury, Connecticut, will enter into carbon negative territory under an agreement with Toyota. A fuel cell plant, which will be installed and operated by FuelCell Energy at the Port of Long Beach in California, will also generate renewable power to be sold to the grid under a tariff program. [Danbury News Times]